Tissue Cutting Member For A Biopsy Device

ABSTRACT

A tissue cutting member includes a distal tubular portion having a side wall defining a lumen, a longitudinal axis, and a flared distal section. The flared distal section has an inclined distal tip and an outwardly flared distal tubular portion that defines an inner tissue receiving aperture. The inclined distal tip has a beveled front face with a leading tissue cutting edge and a trailing cutting edge. A single longitudinally oriented opening is in the side wall in the flared distal section which radially opens to the lumen. The longitudinally oriented opening has an open distal end and is configured to extend from a closed proximal end to the open distal end. The closed proximal end has a relief opening with a transverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of the longitudinally oriented opening adjacent the relief opening. The longitudinally oriented opening diverges to intersect the trailing cutting edge.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/438,955, entitled “Tissue Cutting Member For A Biopsy Device”, filedMay 22, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,095,325, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/683,584, filed on May 23, 2005,and claims priority therefrom, each of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to tissue cutting members fortissue removing devices such as biopsy devices and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In diagnosing and treating certain medical conditions, such aspotentially cancerous tumors, it is usually desirable to perform abiopsy, in which a specimen of the suspicious tissue is removed forpathological examination and analysis. In many instances, the suspicioustissue is located in a subcutaneous site, such as inside a human breast.To minimize surgical intrusion into the patient's body, it is desirableto be able to insert a small instrument into the patient's body toaccess the targeted site and to separate the biopsy specimen therefrom.

Tissue cutting members currently used with biopsy devices have a varietyof problems. Often tissue becomes trapped between the cutting member andthe shaft within which the cutting member is disposed. Also many cuttingmembers currently available in the art are not suitable for effectivelyseparating tough or hard tissue from the target site in a patient'sbody.

There is need in the art for cutting members with improved efficiencyfor separating tissue specimens from a target location in a patient'sbody.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to tissue cutting members for devices forseparating tissue from a target site within a patient's body. Moreparticularly, the invention is directed to tissue cutting members andbiopsy devices using such tissue cutting members for the separation of atissue specimen from supporting tissue at the targeted site within apatient. A suitable biopsy device having a cannula which may be utilizedwith a tissue cutting member having features of the invention isdescribed in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/014,413, filed on Dec.16, 2004.

A tissue cutting member embodying features of the invention includes adistal tubular portion having a distal tip with an outer tissue cuttingedge, an inner tissue receiving aperture, and a longitudinal axis.Preferably the distal tip of the distal tubular portion has a beveledfront face with a leading edge and a trailing edge.

The tubular distal tubular portion has a longitudinally oriented openingin a wall of the distal tubular portion with an open distal end whichopens to the inner tissue receiving aperture, and a closed proximal end.The distal tubular portion of the tissue cutting member has at least asecond opening in a wall of the tubular portion and preferably aplurality of openings circumferentially spaced from the open ended slotabout the longitudinal axis and preferably the centers of these openingsare circumferentially located at about 90°, 135°, or 180° from amidpoint of the longitudinally oriented opening. The one or morecircumferentially spaced openings may be one of a variety of shapes, forexample, a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or an elongated shapesuch as an oval or elongated slot. One or more of the openings in thedistal tubular portion may be of one shape and one or more of the otheropenings may be of another shape. The openings allow for the vacuum tobe maintained within the biopsy device when the cutting member iscutting and provide stress relief, facilitating radial expansion and/orcontraction.

The distal tubular portion preferably has a flared distal section with aproximal end and a distal end, and a cylindrically shaped proximalsection with a proximal end and a distal end. The open distal end of thelongitudinally oriented opening facilitates the flaring of the flareddistal section. The flared distal section ensures that the outer tissuecutting edge of the distal tubular portion engages an inner tissuecutting edge of a tissue receiving aperture in the cannula of the biopsydevice to cleanly sever the tissue specimen from the supporting tissueand to provide a better tissue specimen for pathological examination.

These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparentfrom the following detailed description of the invention and theaccompanying exemplary drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the proximal portion of an elongatedprobe member of a biopsy device that has features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a distal portion of theelongated probe shown in FIG. 1 illustrating a tissue cutting memberembodying features of the invention disposed within the probe.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twoopenings with a rectangular shape.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 3A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is an elevational view of the embodiment of the device shown inFIG. 3A.

FIG. 3D is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the distal tubularportion taken along lines 3D-3D in FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3E is a transverse cross sectional view of the distal tubularportion taken along lines 3E-3E in FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3F is a transverse cross sectional view of the distal tubularportion taken along lines 3F-3F.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twocircular openings.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 4A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twocircular openings and one opening which is an elongated longitudinallyoriented slot.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 5A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twocircular openings and one opening which is an elongated longitudinallyoriented slot.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 6A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including tworectangular openings and one opening which is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot.

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 7A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including tworectangular openings and one opening which is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot.

FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 8A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twoopenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots.

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 9A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twoopenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots with anenlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof.

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 10A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twoopenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each havingan enlarged circular shape between the proximal and distal ends thereof.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 11A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twoopenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots.

FIG. 12B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 12A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twoopenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each havingan enlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof.

FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 13A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including twoopenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots with anenlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof.

FIG. 14B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 14A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including fouropenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots.

FIG. 15B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 15A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including fouropenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each havingan enlarged circular shape at the proximal end thereof.

FIG. 16B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 16A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including fouropenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots.

FIG. 17B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 17A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18A is a perspective view of a distal tubular portion of a tissuecutting member embodying features of the invention including fouropenings which are elongated longitudinally oriented slots each havingan enlarged essentially circular shape at the proximal end thereof.

FIG. 18B is a perspective view of the distal tubular portion shown inFIG. 18A that has been rotated 180° from the view of FIG. 18A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a probe component 10 including a housing12 and an outer tubular member or cannula 14. The tissue cutting member16 embodying features of the invention is slidably disposed within aninner lumen 18 in the cannula 14. The probe component 10 may be part ofa biopsy device such as that described in co-pending application Ser.No. 11/014,413 filed on Dec. 16, 2004. Details of the probe component 10and other parts of the biopsy device may be found in the aforesaidapplication.

The cannula 14 of the probe component 10 has a distal tip 20 and an opentissue receiving aperture 22 spaced proximal to the distal tip 20. Thetissue receiving aperture 22 has an inner tissue cutting edge 24. Thetissue cutting member 16 is slidably disposed within the inner lumen 18of the cannula 14 of the probe component, as shown in FIG. 2.

The distal tip 20 of the cannula 14 may have a variety of tip shapes.The shape of the tissue penetrating distal tip disclosed in the abovereferenced co-pending application Ser. No. 11/014,413 has been found tobe suitable for penetrating tissue, particularly breast tissue.Alternatively, the distal tip 20 may have an arcuate RF electrode suchas disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,241 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,700,(all of which have been assigned to the present assignee) thatfacilitate advancement of the probe through tissue.

FIGS. 3A-18B show tissue cutting member 16 having features of theinvention including a distal tubular portion 26. Preferably the tubulardistal portion has a diameter of between about 0.1 inches and 0.2inches. The distal tubular portion 26 has a distal tip 28 with an outertissue cutting edge 30 and an inner tissue receiving aperture 32 and alongitudinal axis 34. The distal tubular portion 26 also includes alongitudinally oriented opening 36 that has an open distal end 38 whichopens to the inner tissue receiving aperture 32 and which has a closedproximal end 40. Preferably the longitudinally oriented opening 36 has alength of about 0.1 inches to about 0.3 inches. Additionally, a wall 42of the tubular distal portion 26 has at least a second opening 44 (shownhaving a rectangular shape in FIGS. 3A-3F) which is circumferentiallyspaced from the longitudinally oriented opening 36 about thelongitudinal axis 34.

Preferably the distal tip 28 of the distal tubular portion 26 has abeveled front face 46 with a leading edge 48 and a trailing edge 50. Thelongitudinally oriented opening 36 in distal tubular portion 26 opens tothe trailing edge 50 of the beveled front face 46.

The distal tubular portion 26 preferably includes a flared distalsection 52 which has a proximal end 54 and a distal end 56 and acylindrically shaped proximal section 58 which has a proximal end 60 anda distal end 62. The distal tubular portion 26 may have a junction 64where the proximal end 54 of the flared distal section 52 meets thedistal end 62 of the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58.Preferably the flared distal section flares outward about 1° to 3°degrees from the cylindrically shaped proximal section. The open distalend 38 of the longitudinally oriented opening 36 facilitates the flaringof the flared distal section 52 as shown by line 66. The flared distalsection 52 ensures that the outer tissue cutting edge 30 of the distaltubular portion 26 engages the inner tissue cutting edge 24 of thetissue receiving aperture 22, as shown in FIG. 2, to providescissor-like cutting motion for separating a tissue specimen fromsupporting tissue at the target biopsy site.

The longitudinally oriented opening 36 preferably has an enlargedessentially circular shape 68 at the closed proximal end 40 of thelongitudinally oriented opening 36. The closed proximal end 40 of thelongitudinally oriented opening 36 can be located entirely within theflared distal section 52 (not shown), entirely within in thecylindrically shaped proximal section 58 as shown in FIGS. 9A-14B and17A-18B, or at least partially in the distal end 62 of the cylindricallyshaped proximal section 58 as shown in FIGS. 3A-8B and 15A-16B.

The second opening 44 (shown with a rectangular shape in FIGS. 3A-3F) inthe wall 42 of the tubular distal portion 26 allows for a vacuum to bemaintained within the probe component 10. Preferably the distal tubularportion 26 has a plurality of openings. The openings of the distaltubular portion are circumferentially disposed at an angle about thelongitudinal axis 34 and the centers of these openings are preferablycircumferentially located at about 90°, 135°, or 180° from a midpoint ofthe longitudinally oriented opening 36. Preferably a third opening 70(shown with a rectangular shape in FIGS. 3A-3F) is provided in the wall42 of the distal tubular portion 26 circumferentially spaced from thelongitudinally oriented opening 36 and essentially opposite of thesecond opening 44. The second opening 44 may have a variety of shapesfor example, a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or an elongatedshape such as an oval or elongated slot. Preferably when the secondopening 44 is an elongated slot, the opening has a length of betweenabout 0.1 inches and 0.4 inches. The second opening 44 and the thirdopening 70 preferably have the same shape, however, one or more of theopenings may be of one shape and one or more of the other openings maybe of another shape.

In one embodiment of the device having features of the invention, shownin FIGS. 3A-3E, the second and third openings 44 and 70 of the distaltubular portion 26 are circumferential rectangular openings. In thisembodiment the longitudinal midlines of the second opening 44 and thethird opening 70 lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis34 and are located in the flared distal section 52 of the distal tubularportion 26. The closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinally orientedopening 36 is at the proximal end 54 of the flared distal section 52.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a cutting member 16 which embodies features of theinvention wherein the second opening 44 a and third opening 70 a of thedistal tubular portion 26 are circular openings and are located in theflared distal section 52. The closed proximal end 40 of thelongitudinally oriented opening 36 is located at least partially in thedistal end 62 of the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16 wherein the second opening 44 b and third opening 70 b arecircular openings located at least partially in the distal end 62 of thecylindrically shaped proximal portion 58. The closed proximal end 40 ofthe longitudinally oriented opening 36 is located at the proximal end 54of the flared distal section 52.

The distal tubular portion 26 in FIGS. 5A and 5B also includes a fourthopening 72 which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with aclosed proximal end 74 and a closed distal end 76. The fourth opening 72is opposite to the longitudinally oriented opening 36. The closedproximal end 74 of the opening 72 is located at the proximal end 54 ofthe flared distal section 52. The closed distal end 76 of the fourthopening 72 is located in the flared distal section 52.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a tissue cutting member 10 wherein the distaltubular portion 26 has a second opening 44 c and a third opening 70 cwhich are located at least partially in the distal end 62 of thecylindrically shaped section 58. FIGS. 6A and 6B also include a fourthopening 72 a which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with aclosed proximal end 74 a and a closed distal end 76 a. The closedproximal end 74 a of the fourth opening 72 a is in the cylindricallyshaped proximal section 58 and the closed distal end 76 a of the fourthopening 72 a is in the flared distal section 52.

In the embodiment of the device having features of the invention shownin FIGS. 7A and 7B, the second opening 44 d and the third opening 70 dof the distal tubular portion 26 have a rectangular shape and areoriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 34. The closed proximalend 40 of the longitudinally oriented opening 36 and the second 44 d andthird 70 d openings are located at least partially in the distal end 62of the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58.

FIGS. 7A and 7B also include fourth opening 72 b which is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end 74 b and aclosed distal end 76 b. The closed proximal end 74 b of the fourthopening 72 b is located at the proximal end 54 of the flared distalsection 52. The closed distal end 76 b of the fourth opening 72 b islocated in the flared distal section 52.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16 which has a second opening 44 e and a third opening 70 e whichhave a rectangular shape and are oriented perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis 34. The second 44 e and third 70 e openings arelocated at least partially in the distal end 62 of the cylindricallyshaped proximal section 58. FIGS. 8A and 8B also include a fourthopening 72 c which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with aclosed proximal end 74 c and a closed distal end 76 c. The closedproximal end 74 c of the fourth opening 72 c is located in thecylindrically shaped proximal section 58 and the closed distal end 76 cof the fourth opening 72 c is located in the flared distal section 52.In this embodiment the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinallyoriented opening 36 is located at least partially in the distal end 62of the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58.

In the embodiment of the device having features of the invention shownin FIGS. 9A and 9B, the second opening 44 f of the tubular distalportion 26 is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closedproximal end 78 and a closed distal end 80. The closed proximal end 78is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58. The closeddistal end 80 of the second opening 44 f is located in the flared distalsection 52. The third opening 70 f is has the same shape as the secondopening 44 f and the same orientation with respect to the flared distalsection 52 and the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58. In thisembodiment the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinally orientedopening 36 is located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember wherein the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinally orientedopening 36 is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 54 of thedistal tubular portion 26. The distal tubular portion 26 has a secondopening 44 g which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with aclosed distal end 80 a and a closed proximal end 78 a and an enlargedessentially circular shape 82 at the proximal end 78 a thereof. Theclosed proximal end 78 a of the second 44 g opening is located in thecylindrically shaped proximal section 58 and the closed distal end 80 aof second opening is located in the flared distal section 52. The thirdopening 70 g of the distal tubular portion 26 has the same shape as thesecond opening 44 g and has the same orientation.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16 wherein the distal tubular portion 26 has a second opening 44h which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closedproximal end 78 b and a closed distal end 80 b. The second opening alsohad an enlarged essentially circular shape 84 located between theproximal 78 b and distal 80 b ends. The closed proximal end 78 b of theelongated shape is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58 andthe closed distal end 80 b of the elongated shape is in the distalflared section 52. The enlarged essentially circular shape 84 of thesecond opening 44 h is at least partially in the distal end 62 of thecylindrically shaped proximal section 58. The third opening 70 h is thesame shape as the second opening 44 h and has the same orientation asthe second opening 44 h. In this embodiment the closed proximal end 40of the longitudinally oriented opening 36 is in the cylindrically shapedproximal section 58 of the distal tubular portion 26.

FIGS. 12A and 12B show a distal tubular portion of the tissue cuttingmember 26 wherein the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinallyoriented opening 36 is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58of the distal tubular portion 26. The second opening 44 i is anelongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end 78 cand a closed distal end 80 c. The closed proximal end 78 c of the firstopening 44 i is located at the proximal end 54 of the flared distalsection 52. The closed distal end 80 c of the second opening 44 i islocated in the flared distal section 52. The third opening 70 i has thesame shape and orientation as the second opening 44 i.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16, which has a second opening 44 j which is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot with a closed distal 80 d end and closedproximal end 78 d. The closed proximal end 78 d has an enlargedessentially circular shape 86. The closed distal end 80 d of the secondopening 44 j is located in the flared distal section 52 and the closedproximal end 78 d is located at least partially in the distal end 62 ofthe cylindrically shaped proximal section 58. The third opening 70 j hasthe same shape and orientation as the second opening 44 j. In thisembodiment the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinally orientedopening 36 is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58 of thedistal tubular portion 26.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16 which has a second opening 44 k which is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end 78 e and aclosed distal end 80 e. The closed proximal end 78 e of the elongatedslot has an enlarged essentially circular shape 88 which extends towardthe longitudinally oriented opening 36. In this embodiment the closedproximal end 40 of the longitudinally oriented opening 36 is in thecylindrically shaped proximal section 58 of the distal tubular portion26.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16 wherein closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinally orientedopening 36 is located at least partially in the distal end 62 of thecylindrically shaped proximal section 58. In this embodiment the devicehas a second opening 44 l which is an elongated longitudinally orientedslot. The second opening 44 l a closed proximal end 78 f and a closeddistal end 80 f. The closed distal end 80 f of the second opening 44 lis in the flared distal section 52 of the distal tubular portion 26. Theclosed proximal end 78 f of the second opening 44 l is in thecylindrically shaped proximal section 58. The third opening 70 l has thesame shape and orientation as the second opening 44 l.

Additionally, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B includes afourth opening 72 d and a fifth opening 90. The fourth opening 72 d isan elongated longitudinally oriented slot and has a closed proximal end74 d and a closed distal end 76 d. The closed proximal end 74 d of thefourth opening 72 d is located at the proximal end 54 of the flareddistal section 52. The closed distal end 76 d of the fourth opening 72 dis located in the flared distal section 52. The fourth opening 72 d andthe fifth opening 90 have lengths which are longer than the length ofthe second opening 44 l and the third opening 70 l.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show a distal tubular portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16 which has a second opening 44 m, a third opening 70 m, afourth opening 72 e, and a fifth opening 90 a. The second opening 44 mis an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal 78 gend and a closed distal end 80 g. The closed proximal end 78 g of thesecond opening 44 m has an enlarged essentially circular shape 92 whichis located at least partially in the distal end 62 of the cylindricallyshaped proximal section 58. The closed distal end 80 g of the secondopening 44 m is located in the flared distal section 52. The thirdopening 70 m has the same shape and orientation as the second opening 44m. In this embodiment the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinallyoriented opening 36 is located at least partially in the distal end 62of the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58.

The embodiment in FIGS. 16A and 16B also includes a fourth opening 72 eand a fifth opening 90 a. The fourth opening 72 e is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end 74 e and aclosed distal end 76 e. The closed proximal end 74 e of the fourthopening 72 e has an enlarged essentially circular shape 94 which islocated at least partially in the distal end 62 of the cylindricallyshaped proximal section 58. The closed distal end 76 e of the fourthopening 72 e is located in the flared distal section 52. The fourthopening 72 e and the fifth opening 90 a have a length which is longerthan the length of the second opening 44 m and the third opening 70 m.

FIGS. 17A and 17B show a tubular distal portion 26 of the tissue cuttingmember 16 wherein the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinallyoriented opening 36 is located in the cylindrically shaped proximalsection 58. This embodiment includes a second opening 44 n and a thirdopening 70 n. The second opening 44 n is an elongated longitudinallyoriented slot with a closed proximal end 78 h and a closed distal end 80h. The closed proximal end 78 h of the second opening 44 n is located inthe cylindrically shaped proximal section 58. The closed distal end 80 hof the second opening 44 n is located in the flared distal section 52.The third opening 70 m has the same shape and orientation as the secondopening 44 n.

The embodiment in FIGS. 17A and 17B also has a fourth opening 72 f andfifth opening 90 b. The fourth opening 72 f is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end 74 f and aclosed distal end 76 f. The closed distal end 76 f of the fourth opening72 f is located in the flared distal section 52. The closed proximal end76 f of the fourth opening 72 f is located at the junction 64 betweenthe flared distal section 52 and the cylindrically shaped proximalsection 58. The fifth opening 90 b has the same shape and orientation asthe fourth opening 72 f.

The embodiment of the device shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B has a secondopening 44 o which is an elongated longitudinally oriented slot with aclosed distal end 80 i and a closed proximal end 78 i. The closedproximal end 78 i of the second opening 44 o has an enlarged essentiallycircular shape located in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 58.The closed distal end 80 i of the second opening 44 o is located in theflared distal section 52. The third opening 70 o has the same shape andorientation as the second opening 44 o.

The embodiment in FIGS. 18A and 18B also include a fourth opening 72 gand a fifth opening 90 c. The fourth opening 72 g is an elongatedlongitudinally oriented slot with a closed proximal end 74 g and aclosed distal end 76 g. The closed proximal end 74 g of the fourthopening 72 g is located at the proximal end 54 of the flared distalsection 52. The closed distal end 76 g of the fourth opening 72 g islocated in the flared distal section 52. The fifth opening 90 c has thesame shape and orientation as the fourth opening 72 g. In thisembodiment the closed proximal end 40 of the longitudinally orientedopening 36 is in the cylindrically shaped proximal section 54 of thedistal tubular portion 26.

The tissue cutting members shown in 17A and 17B and 18A and 18B may havean additional opening 96 shown in phantom in FIG. 18A.

The tubular portion 28 of the tissue cutting member 16 is preferablyformed of surgical grade stainless steel. However, other high strengthmaterials such as MP35N, other cobalt-chromium alloys, NiTi alloys,ceramics, glasses, and high strength polymeric materials or combinationsthereof may be suitable. Further details of the tissue cutting member 16may be found in the above mentioned application Ser. No. 11/014,413,filed on Dec. 16, 2004.

While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it will be apparent that various modifications andimprovements can be made to the invention. For example, while thevarious embodiments of the invention have been described herein in termsof a biopsy device, it should be apparent that the devices and methodsof utilizing the device may be employed to remove tissue for purposesother than for biopsy, i.e. for treatment or other diagnoses. Moreover,individual features of embodiments of the invention may be shown in somedrawings and not in others, but those skilled in the art will recognizethat individual features of one embodiment of the invention can becombined with any or all the features of another embodiment.Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to thespecific embodiments illustrated. It is therefore intended that thisinvention to be defined by the scope of the appended claims as broadlyas the prior art will permit.

Terms such a “element”, “member”, “device”, “section”, “component”,“portion”, “section”, “means”, “step” and words of similar import, whenused herein shall not be construed as invoking the provisions of 35U.S.C. §112(6) unless the following claims expressly use the terms“means” or “step” followed by a particular function without specificstructure or action. All patents and patent applications referred toabove are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

1-42. (canceled)
 43. A tissue cutting member for separating a tissuespecimen from a target site within a patient's body comprising: a distaltubular portion including a side wall defining a lumen, a longitudinalaxis, and a flared distal section, the flared distal section having aninclined distal tip at a distal end of the side wall and an outwardlyflared distal tubular portion that defines an inner tissue receivingaperture, the inclined distal tip having a beveled front face with aleading cutting edge and a trailing cutting edge, the outwardly flareddistal tubular portion being outwardly flared in a distal direction tothe leading cutting edge; and a single longitudinally oriented openingin the side wall in the flared distal section which radially opens tothe lumen, the single longitudinally oriented opening having an opendistal end and configured to extend from a closed proximal end to theopen distal end, the closed proximal end having a relief opening with atransverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of the singlelongitudinally oriented opening adjacent the relief opening, the singlelongitudinally oriented opening diverging from the closed proximal endto intersect the trailing cutting edge of the beveled front face of theinclined distal tip of the distal tubular portion and configured tofacilitate formation of the outwardly flared distal tubular portion. 44.The tissue cutting member of claim 43, wherein the relief opening has asubstantially circular shape.
 45. The tissue cutting member of claim 43,wherein the distal tubular portion includes a cylindrically shapedproximal section, the flared distal section configured to extend in adistal direction from the cylindrically shaped proximal section.
 46. Thetissue cutting member of claim 45, wherein the relief opening is locatedat an intersection of the cylindrically shaped proximal section with theflared distal section of the distal tubular portion.
 47. The tissuecutting member of claim 45, wherein the relief opening is located, inpart, in each of the cylindrically shaped proximal section and theflared distal section of the distal tubular portion.
 48. The tissuecutting member of claim 43, further comprising at least one annular slotlocated in the side wall in the flared distal section in a regionbetween the relief opening and the inclined distal tip.
 49. The tissuecutting member of claim 48, wherein the at least one annular slotincludes two diametrically opposed annular slots.
 50. The tissue cuttingmember of claim 43, further comprising at least one circular openinglocated in the side wall in the flared distal section in a regionbetween the relief opening and the inclined distal tip.
 51. The tissuecutting member of claim 50, wherein the at least one circular openingincludes two diametrically opposed circular openings.
 52. The tissuecutting member of claim 43, wherein the distal tubular portion includesa cylindrically shaped proximal section, the flared distal sectionconfigured to extend in a distal direction from the cylindrically shapedproximal section, and further comprising at least one annular slotlocated at an intersection of the cylindrically shaped proximal sectionwith the flared distal section of the distal tubular portion.
 53. Thetissue cutting member of claim 52, wherein the at least one annular slotincludes two diametrically opposed annular slots.
 54. The tissue cuttingmember of claim 43, wherein the distal tubular portion includes acylindrically shaped proximal section, the flared distal sectionconfigured to extend in a distal direction from the cylindrically shapedproximal section, and further comprising at least one circular openinglocated at an intersection of the cylindrically shaped proximal sectionwith the flared distal section of the distal tubular portion.
 55. Thetissue cutting member of claim 54, wherein the at least one circularopening includes two diametrically opposed circular openings.
 56. Abiopsy probe, comprising: a. an elongated outer cannula having a distaltip, a first tissue receiving aperture in a side wall of the elongatedouter cannula spaced proximally from the distal tip; and b. a tissuecutting member slidably disposed within the elongated outer cannula, thetissue cutting member including: a distal tubular portion including aside wall defining a lumen, a longitudinal axis, and a flared distalsection, the flared distal section having an inclined distal tip at adistal end of the side wall and an outwardly flared distal tubularportion that defines an inner tissue receiving aperture, the inclineddistal tip having a beveled front face with a leading cutting edge and atrailing cutting edge, the outwardly flared distal tubular portion beingoutwardly flared in a distal direction to the leading cutting edge; anda single longitudinally oriented opening in the side wall in the flareddistal section which radially opens to the lumen, the singlelongitudinally oriented opening having an open distal end and configuredto extend from a closed proximal end to the open distal end, the closedproximal end having a relief opening with a transverse dimension largerthan a transverse dimension of the single longitudinally orientedopening adjacent the relief opening, the single longitudinally orientedopening diverging from the closed proximal end to intersect the trailingcutting edge of the beveled front face of the inclined distal tip of thedistal tubular portion and configured to facilitate formation of theoutwardly flared distal tubular portion.
 57. The biopsy probe of claim56, wherein the relief opening has a substantially circular shape. 58.The biopsy probe of claim 56, wherein the distal tubular portionincludes a cylindrically shaped proximal section, the flared distalsection configured to extend in a distal direction from thecylindrically shaped proximal section.
 59. The biopsy probe of claim 58,wherein the relief opening is located at an intersection of thecylindrically shaped proximal section with the flared distal section ofthe distal tubular portion.
 60. The biopsy probe of claim 56, furthercomprising at least one annular slot located in the side wall in theflared distal section in a region between the relief opening and theinclined distal tip.
 61. The biopsy probe of claim 56, furthercomprising at least one circular opening located in the side wall in theflared distal section in a region between the relief opening and theinclined distal tip.
 62. A tissue cutting member for separating a tissuespecimen from a target site within a patient's body, comprising: adistal tubular portion including a side wall defining a lumen, alongitudinal axis, a cylindrically shaped proximal section, and a flareddistal section, the flared distal section configured to extend in adistal direction from the cylindrically shaped proximal section, theflared distal section having an inclined distal tip at a distal end ofthe side wall and an outwardly flared distal tubular portion thatdefines an inner tissue receiving aperture, the inclined distal tiphaving a beveled front face with a leading cutting edge and a trailingcutting edge, the outwardly flared distal tubular portion beingoutwardly flared in a distal direction to the leading cutting edge; anda single longitudinally oriented opening in the side wall in thecylindrically shaped proximal section and in the flared distal sectionwhich radially opens to the lumen, the single longitudinally orientedopening having an open distal end at the flared distal section andhaving a closed proximal end in the cylindrically shaped proximalsection, the closed proximal end having a relief opening with atransverse dimension larger than a transverse dimension of the singlelongitudinally oriented opening adjacent the relief opening, the singlelongitudinally oriented opening configured to diverge to intersect thetrailing cutting edge of the beveled front face of the inclined distaltip of the distal tubular portion and configured to facilitate formationof the outwardly flared distal tubular portion.